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THE LORD DID INDEED LEAD CODY TO A BOY
Thursday, September 4, 1986

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PIX #1 - This photo shows Cody Cull (let) and Pow. The
picture was taken after Pow had arrived in America and had lived in
this country for awhile. The photo of Pow taken when he was released
and arrived in America was not available.

"See if the Lord leads you to a boy" were Joyce Cull's
final words to her husband, Cody, as she farewelled him to Thailiand
in December 1979. He was going there as part of a Youth With A Mission
medical program to work among the thousands of refugees who had pored
over the borders from Cambodia to Thailiand.

Several years before, the Cull's who had one biological
daughter named Ange of their own but could have no more, adopted a
little Korean girl, Sarah. This cute, sparkling bundle of fun, won
their hearts and quickly broke down any lingering cultural prejudices
they may have had. Now they were ready to introduce another member
into their family. As they prayed, they felt strongly it should be
a boy.

REFUGEE CAMPS PITS OF HUMAN SUFFERING

Cody's heart grieved as he entered the pit of human
suffering the the Thailiand camp. Amidst the dust and unsanitary conditions
the refugees, or as they were now being named by the Thai government,
illegal aliens, were pouring into Khao I Dang at the rate of 5,000
a day.

On their arrival they were given a sheet of plastic
and a few bamboo sticks from which they constructed a makeshift shelter.
A limited eight gallons of water were allocated to each family per
day, (one flush of a Western toilet takes eight gallons). Especially
in the earlist days of the camp, sanitary conditions were practically
nonexistent.

But even this was better than the atrocities of war
from which these people had fled. It was not uncommon for the communists
to have come into a home, ravaged every item of value and left the
family to grovel for whatever existence they could. Many, especially
as they were fleeing to safety, existed off the bark and leaves of
trees.

CODY KEPT BUSY CARING FOR THE SICK AND DYING

They arrived in the camp with rib cages sticking out
from starvation. Many suffered TB and were dying like flies. cody,
with the rest of the medical team, had his hands full tending the
sick and dying. But Joyce's departing words remained with him.

In the midst of these thousands of hurting, displaced
people, who in a few years were to see their entire population reduced
from eight to only three and a half milliion, was it possible God
had a little boy picked out for them...who would become part of their
family?

Because they had arrived at a leter date, the Cambodians
in the camp where Cody was working were classified as aliens rather
than refugees. That meant they were not eligible for replacement in
a third world country.

But Camp Aranyaprathet, 30 miles away, housed refugees
who were eligible. Cody learned of three orphan boys in that camp,
one of whom he might be able to bring back with him to America.

FOUND BOY WHOM HE KNEW WAS FOR HIM

He took the 30 mile journey to investigate. There he
met the boy named Pow. The moment Cody saw Pow he knew. His infectious
smile and vibrant drive for life won Cody's heart immediately.

Both Pow's parents and younger brother had died during
the war in Cambodia. In a raid with guns and rockets firing all aroung
them, houses burning, people fleeing, Pow with a younger sister, Amina
from whom he became separated, had fled for his life.

He had already applied to five countries for immigration.
Cody felt more than pity or concern. He felt identification. Pow wasn't
just another refugee child. He was the son whom God had chosen for
them. Cody showed Pow pictures of their family. He explained what
would be involved if Pow chose to become part of their family.

Pow's response was immediate. Yes! He wanted to become
part of their family.

ADOPTION PROBLEMS SOLVED BY GOD

At that point Cody only had two weeks left and as he
quickly discovered, Cambodian children are not adoptable. He did all
he could to make arrangements.

Returning to his home in Indians, he continued his attempts
to bring Pow to America. For the next six months, he and Joyce did
everything within their power to have Pow released. They wrote countless
letters, sent telegrams, made numerous telephone calls, and had at
least two congressional inquiries. But it was all in vain.

Finally in August Cody came to a point of relinquishment,
"I believe you've lead us to Pow and that you want him to join our
family", he prayed, "but it's clear I can't achieve this on my own.
I give him back into Your hands. If you want him to come you'll have
to open the door.

PRAYERS ANSWERED: POW CAM TO CULL'S

For the next 30 days, neither Cody or Joyce did anything
to aid Pow's release. Then came a call from the U.S. Embassy, "Hang
on, Don't give up hope".

A Christian worker there Andrea Fowler, was doing everything
within her power to assist. A few days later came another call, "Looks
like it might be two or three weeks". Then finally the word they had
been prayinf and hoping for came through.

"How about five days?"

It was definite confirmation of Pow's release, and within
five days, a lone refugee boy, proudly dressed in his new demin slacks,
shirt and a size too small tennis shoes, stepped from a plane at Indianapolis
International Airport. To welcome him were his brand new American
family. In his hand was a small satchel containing all the belongings
he owned.

"IS THIS AMERICA?" POW ASKED UPON HIS ARRIVAL IN THE
U.S.

As the plane broke through the dark cloud into bright
sunlight it was ringed by a double rainbow...a sign of God's faithfulness.

Joyce's heart missed a beast as all the passengers descended
and Pow, who has since come to be known as David, didn't appear. But
finally there he came, conducted by the air stewardess.

It was a touching moment for them all. Joyce's dad,
who with her mother, had joined them for the occasion, stood with
tears streaming down his face. Running out, Cody leaned over the barrier
and swung the tiny figure into his arms.

As they walked out of the airport together Pow turned
to Cody, "Is this America?"

At a cafeteria, one of their first stops, Pow picked
almost every item in sight. Before long he had become absorbed into
the Cull family and more important with a few months had made his
commitment to join God's family.

FORMER FOSTORIANS WHAMS NASA BIGWIGS

Patsy Walsh Foote who grew up in Fostoria, and was included
in Potluck articles in past weeks, sent me a copy of the letter which
she wrote to the editor of Huntsville, Alabama Times, and which appeared
in print, WoW!

TAIL IS WAGGING NASA'S DOG

To The Times: If the captain of the U.S. Naval ship
hits a sandbar, losing no lives but damaging government property,
his career and reputation are ruined. He is known forever as a man
who "ran aground" and exists in a perpetual state of disgrace.

This may explain the absense of Gen. Chuck Yeager at
committee hearings on the Challenger disaster. Brace as he is, he
may have an Achilles heel which won't permit him to endure the buck-passing
and supreme arrogance of NASA civilians who bullied contractors into
signing off on a doomed rocket with no escape-hatch.

Now, a widow is suing and NASA has miraculously "rescued"
voice tapes which prove that the crew "Never knew what hit 'em". The
trained and conditioned victims would not have been quick to voice
concern, so who knows what they were thinking those last moments?

The Huntsville Chamber of Commerce fell all over itself
in praising the NASA chief who retired and The Times noted that his
old Volkswagen "Bug" would be sorely missed in NASA's parking lot.

That should tell us something - it is German precision,
militaristic self- discipline, and price in workmanship and accomplishments
- NASA really lacks. A recent Newsweek article stated that newly prosperous
locals patronize the Black Forest and not Detroit for status-symbol
automobiles noted for superb engineering.

The tail is wagging the dog at NASA. When a man who
is probably the most culpable of all appears on TV and refers to himself
affectionately and grandly in the third person without a spark of
remorse or humiliation, it is time for someone to have the backbone
to day "this is outrageous".

Where is it written that a NASA job should be a secure
and that no one can be fired and drummed out in disgrace? Patsy Walsh
Foote Huntsville

Patsy's note to me said: "I wanted to show you the article
which has turned the town upside down".

I was the only person to have the nerve to write, criticizing
big-shots at NASA. I have had the phone ringing off the hook, with
thanks and praise... and soon I will get the flak. People have been
driving by...stopping and looking at me. I expect to get terrible
repercusions but I can take it!

Patsy's husband is a retired Colonel from the U.S. Air
Force (World War I).